All posts tagged ‘geekmom panel’

Did you miss our GeekMom panel at New York Comic Con? Never fear! In our talk about how to raise young padawans, we threw out a bunch of different recommendations for comics, games, apps, movies, and costumes. Here’s a snapshot of what we talked about.

Raising kids is a tough job, but raising geek kids can be even more of a challenge. How do you know when they’re ready to see Anakin become Vader? Should you name your son Peter if your last name is Parker? And what if those summer robot camps teach them to build Skynet?! Join the writers from Wired’s GeekMom Blog as they share the ups, downs and sideways of raising good little Padawans.

Amy also points out that some of your kids' favorite games may be good for them. In trying to beat the Survival Endless goal in Plants vs. Zombies, Amy's daughter used the scientific method to test her zombie-defeating hypotheses.

Get kids involved in making their own costumes, like this duct-tape-and-newspaper steampunk outfit. Easy is awesome: glow sticks + umbrella = jellyfish. And, performance goes a long way. When Rebecca's daughter and a friend dresses as statues, people would open their door to creepy, immobile trick-or-treaters.

And, of course, we have to mention the new GeekMom book, written by our GeekMom editors and packed with ideas for raising a little Padawan.

Raising kids is a tough job, but raising geek kids can be even more of a challenge. How do you know when they’re ready to see Anakin become Vader? Should you name your son Peter if your last name is Parker? And what if those summer robot camps teach them to build Skynet?! Join the writers from Wired’s GeekMom Blog as they share the ups, downs and sideways of raising good little Padawans.

It can be hard finding kid-appropriate content in comics, but Corrina recommends these series for great superhero characters.

Nicole recommends these games for kids. Show your interest in games and they'll develop an interest, too.

When playing RPGs with kids, let them play at their own pace. If they want to spend all afternoon developing a character, let them, and play more the next time.

In a sea of apps that label themselves "educational", Amy recommends some apps that have real value for kids' play time.

Amy also points out that some of your kids' favorite games may be good for them. In trying to beat the Survival Endless goal in Plants vs. Zombies, Amy's daughter used the scientific method to test her zombie-defeating hypotheses.

Just the sight of Miyazaki film stills made some of our audience members burst into applause. Kristen recommends My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service as your geeklet's first movies.

Kristen also had a great experience introducing her daughter to the Signing Times series. Now her 3-year-old has American Sign Language as her second language.

It's great if you have a loving family member to sew amazing costumes for you, but Rebecca has easy things you can do to make memorable Halloween costumes.

Get kids involved in making their own costumes, like this duct-tape-and-newspaper steampunk outfit. Easy is awesome: glow sticks + umbrella = jellyfish. And, performance goes a long way. When Rebecca's daughter and a friend dresses as statues, people would open their door to creepy, immobile trick-or-treaters.

Let kids explore their own super identities. Rebecca's son has been a cop, Bionicle, and a hero of his own design, Flame Fighter.

If you want your kids to get out there and make fools of themselves, make sure you get into the act, too. Here's Rebecca as Malibu Matrix Barbie.

Don't miss out on Rebecca's super easy costumes in her A Very Munchkin Halloween.

http://www.wired.com/geekmom/2012/10/munchkin-halloween/

And, of course, we have to mention the new GeekMom book, written by our GeekMom editors and packed with ideas for raising a little Padawan.

Waldo, in his striped cap, turned to look around in the big crowd. He spotted his friend, Captain America, and pointed, “There you are!” This was one of the many entertaining moments at New York ComicCon that I enjoyed over the weekend. Cosplay is so fun and so very surreal. I loved to see all the kids dressed up as their favorite superheroes, especially when they find their bigger self.

Big and Little Wolverine posing for the cameras. (Image by Rebecca Angel)